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Only women in swimming pools? Oh, we can't be having that!

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  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I don't have a problem with events exclusive to either sex - be that swimming lessons, golf sessions, whatever.

    If you don't like it...go elsewhere...or at another time.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i think that women-only sessions are like the women-only sections in some gyms.
    i can understand why they exist.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I much prefer women only sessions.

    My student union swimming pool (ULU) has men only sessions also.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    lipsy wrote:
    i think that women-only sessions are like the women-only sections in some gyms.
    i can understand why they exist.


    mind if i ask why?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    mind if i ask why?
    as far as the gyms go.. i can feel slightly uncomfortable. u know with all the sweat and testosterone in the room, i sometimes feel like im being perved on. and running on a tread mill with my bum and boobs bouncing knowing there's a man behind me is a bit :/
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    lipsy wrote:
    as far as the gyms go.. i can feel slightly uncomfortable. u know with all the sweat and testosterone in the room, i sometimes feel like im being perved on. and running on a tread mill with my bum and boobs bouncing knowing there's a man behind me is a bit :/

    :shocking: :eek2: :crazyeyes :confused::confused:

    Are you serious?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think a pool operated by a private company can pretty much do what it likes in terms of scheduling. If it's maintained by a local authority using ratepayer's money then I guess they would have less scope for having exclusive sessions.

    When I go to the gym I usually keep my eyes fairly fixed firmly on the ground lest I accidentally make eye contact with some girlie clad in two handkerchief sized pieces of lycra and get accused of perving on her.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    carrot12 wrote:
    I think a pool operated by a private company can pretty much do what it likes in terms of scheduling. If it's maintained by a local authority using ratepayer's money then I guess they would have less scope for having exclusive sessions.

    When I go to the gym I usually keep my eyes fairly fixed firmly on the ground lest I accidentally make eye contact with some girlie clad in two handkerchief sized pieces of lycra and get accused of perving on her.
    I was just gonna make the same point. It's different with a private swimming pool (or gym), since only those who use it pay. But when it's being heavily subsidised with my tax money, I expect to be able to go to swim in a training pool whenever I want. I can understand that certain club might want to use the pool for other activities, but being a girl is not justification for having the pool to yourself. I think that any girl who seriously thinks that every man is going to be perving on her should just get over herself to be honest. Or maybe we should just keep women and men separate full stop so that women don't have to put up with all this unwanted attention?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think that any girl who seriously thinks that every man is going to be perving on her should just get over herself to be honest. Or maybe we should just keep women and men separate full stop so that women don't have to put up with all this unwanted attention?

    Way to miss the point. :yeees:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    briggi wrote:
    Way to miss the point. :yeees:
    Go on then, explain the point. I thought the point was that my money was paying for something which I can't use when I want to, purely because I'm a man.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The point was that you're assuming women like women-only sessions because they don't like men "perving on them". That may be the case for some, but by no means all. I know people who attend women's hour at my local swimming pool (my mother included) and they have no illusions that men would be ogling them.

    Give us a little credit.

    I'm not against men having equal time in a swimming pool that they fund equally, but I don't think it should be at the expense of women who are accustomed to having this priviledge (yes, I'm aware that is what these specialist sessions are). Like I said before, I think calls to revoke the sessions all-together is petty and spiteful, if it's an issue for male members then they should be offering sessions that are exclusively male swim time too.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    briggi wrote:
    The point was that you're assuming women like women-only sessions because they don't like men "perving on them". That may be the case for some, but by no means all. I know people who attend women's hour at my local swimming pool (my mother included) and they have no illusions that men would be ogling them.

    Give us a little credit.

    I'm not against men having equal time in a swimming pool that they fund equally, but I don't think it should be at the expense of women who are accustomed to having this priviledge (yes, I'm aware that is what these specialist sessions are). Like I said before, I think calls to revoke the sessions all-together is petty and spiteful, if it's an issue for male members then they should be offering sessions that are exclusively male swim time too.
    I don't really think that little of all girls, but since no-one has given me a valid reason why they want these sessions.... "Because women are used to having them" is not a valid reason. If men were to have the same treatment, then that would be a further two times a week where not everybody can use the pool. I don't think that's acceptable in a pool that everyone has paid for, and in a society where people don't all work 9-5. That's why it has to be open to most of the people most of the time.

    I don't think it's just out of spite, I think it's been caused by men walking all the way to the swimming pool at the only time that's available to them, and being told that they can't some in just because they're a man. Different times (or preferably different lanes) for different swimming abilities is fine, since you don't want people being drowned by someone speeding past them, nor do you want someone not being able to have a proper swim, because they're constantly held up. And clubs are fine, because even though they're using pool time, I expect that everyone is welcome to join the club if they so wish. What special needs do women (or men) have that should allow them exclusive use of the pool?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    briggi wrote:
    The point was that you're assuming women like women-only sessions because they don't like men "perving on them". That may be the case for some, but by no means all. I know people who attend women's hour at my local swimming pool (my mother included) and they have no illusions that men would be ogling them.

    Give us a little credit.

    I'm not against men having equal time in a swimming pool that they fund equally, but I don't think it should be at the expense of women who are accustomed to having this priviledge (yes, I'm aware that is what these specialist sessions are). Like I said before, I think calls to revoke the sessions all-together is petty and spiteful, if it's an issue for male members then they should be offering sessions that are exclusively male swim time too.


    so on the streets there should be male and female times only so they dont oggle eachother? and what do you do with gay men or women?

    learning to deal with people who arent actually infringing upon you but are annoying is part of life

    should they allow lesbians to all women nights?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    turlough wrote:
    :shocking: :eek2: :crazyeyes :confused::confused:

    Are you serious?
    :lol: im not saying every guy pervs on me when im in the gym and also atmospheres do vary from gym to gym. but when i went to a stupidly expensive gym last year there was a womens only area and i thought it was quite nice :p
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    stargalaxy wrote:
    I've recently been looking a lot at what happens around Bristol and the South West, for personal reasons. During my searches, I came across this story... according to (I apologise in advance) the Daily Mail;

    "Women-only swimming sessions have been scrapped by a council after a man complained they were sexist. The man, who has not been named, complained about not being able to take part in the popular sessions at the pool in Portishead, north Somerset. As a result, North Somerset Council has been forced to cancel the sessions at four of its pools."

    The story? Click here for it - if you dare...

    Well, there's no doubt the Daily Mail will see this as political correctness gone utterly mad. But what do you think? I reckon a bit of common sense could have easily sorted this situation. In the article;

    "Swimmer Sue Marshall, 41, from Nailsea, said some women felt more comfortable with no men in the pool. She told the Bristol Evening Post: "The women's swim session on Wednesday evening was always very popular. I think some women do feel self-conscious in their swimsuits and just feel more comfortable when they know it's just other women in the pool. I would hate anyone to feel discriminated against, so why not have men-only sessions to even it up?"

    Well, indeed. I readily admit I would not be very comfortable being in a swimming pool full of women, I'm pretty self-conscious about my body. I think the council has reacted the wrong way to this one.

    sometimes it's a culture thing. Some cultures do not allow women to be in a state of undress (Showing flesh) in front of men they are not related to.

    Personally I think anyone who is mean enough to take away someone's chance of enjoying a swim just to make a point is a very sad person.

    even if they claim to be doing it because they think the cultural 'rules' are wrong, I think it's mean and won't change anything.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    byny wrote:
    Personally I think anyone who is mean enough to take away someone's chance of enjoying a swim just to make a point is a very sad person.

    even if they claim to be doing it because they think the cultural 'rules' are wrong, I think it's mean and won't change anything.

    Agreed 100%.
    so on the streets there should be male and female times only so they dont oggle eachother? and what do you do with gay men or women?

    learning to deal with people who arent actually infringing upon you but are annoying is part of life

    should they allow lesbians to all women nights?

    :banghead:

    Stop being so disingenuous. Yes, maybe these women-only sessions should be consigned to privately-owned swimming baths to solve this "issue", but I get the feeling that some people would still take issue with their existence.

    And are you being facaetious or seriously suggesting questioning people's sexuality before they go swimming? :lol:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    briggi wrote:
    :banghead:

    Stop being so disingenuous. Yes, maybe these women-only sessions should be consigned to privately-owned swimming baths to solve this "issue", but I get the feeling that some people would still take issue with their existence.

    And are you being facaetious or seriously suggesting questioning people's sexuality before they go swimming? :lol:


    your not answering my question - i said 'if womens session are there to stop women feel like they're being watched, would you admit a known lesbian to it?'

    despite the fact it makes the assumption men never stop looking at women which isn't quite true and therefore i find it really offensive and sexist


    some people said its that they dont want kids etc playing around and splashing in the pool, to which i gave a good answer of having nights with enforced pool rules
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    your not answering my question - i said 'if womens session are there to stop women feel like they're being watched, would you admit a known lesbian to it?'

    despite the fact it makes the assumption men never stop looking at women which isn't quite true and therefore i find it really offensive and sexist

    A "known lesbian"? What is that supposed to mean? You make it sound as if simply being a lesbian makes you an automatic sexual predator. To answer your question quite simply - yes, I would.

    I find the idea that a women-only sports session automatically makes the assumption that "men never stop looking at women" to be rather ridiculous, can women not have reasons other than that for wanting to have a single-sex swimming hour? You drew your own conclusion there, because I didn't say anything like that at any point.

    Also, these sessions aren't in place to reassure women that they aren't being watched. But even if they were, I really fail to see why using an hour out of a pool's schedule to provide that reassurance is a bad thing.

    You won't change my opinion on this, and I clearly won't change yours, so I'll agree to disagree. :thumb:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    briggi wrote:
    A "known lesbian"? What is that supposed to mean? You make it sound as if simply being a lesbian makes you an automatic sexual predator. To answer your question quite simply - yes, I would.

    I find the idea that a women-only sports session automatically makes the assumption that "men never stop looking at women" to be rather ridiculous, can women not have reasons other than that for wanting to have a single-sex swimming hour? You drew your own conclusion there, because I didn't say anything like that at any point.

    Also, these sessions aren't in place to reassure women that they aren't being watched. But even if they were, I really fail to see why using an hour out of a pool's schedule to provide that reassurance is a bad thing.

    You won't change my opinion on this, and I clearly won't change yours, so I'll agree to disagree. :thumb:


    there are people who have said they like women only nights to stop people lookin at them?


    why do you like them then?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    how rediculous.

    One of the main reasons people have women only sessions is to serve the part of the local community that has religious or cultural rules regarding displaying human flesh to men they are not related to.

    Does anyone here think providing that service to these women is wrong?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    briggi wrote:
    can women not have reasons other than that for wanting to have a single-sex swimming hour?
    Of course they can, but you've failed to give any.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    byny wrote:
    Personally I think anyone who is mean enough to take away someone's chance of enjoying a swim just to make a point is a very sad person.

    even if they claim to be doing it because they think the cultural 'rules' are wrong, I think it's mean and won't change anything.
    It's nothing to do with cultural rules. Its to do with the fact that someone ends up not being able to go swimming, because the only time that they are available happens to be the same time that the women only session is on.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    byny wrote:
    how rediculous.

    One of the main reasons people have women only sessions is to serve the part of the local community that has religious or cultural rules regarding displaying human flesh to men they are not related to.

    Does anyone here think providing that service to these women is wrong?


    have you seen my views on providing exemptions on that scale for religious reasons

    i probably wouldnt care sometimes, however they do tend to have LOADS of womens nights imo
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    OK - have read into it and it seems their only beef is that they were able to swim and now they can't. I guess the pool managers should arrange different times, including a men only session. However, they have used the 'sexism' claim to get the result tey wanted. Sounds to me like they were pissed off about their sessons in the pool being messed up (Apparently they were regular users) and using the sexist card was the easiest way to get access to the pool. It's a shame.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    byny wrote:
    OK - have read into it and it seems their only beef is that they were able to swim and now they can't. I guess the pool managers should arrange different times, including a men only session. However, they have used the 'sexism' claim to get the result tey wanted. Sounds to me like they were pissed off about their sessons in the pool being messed up (Apparently they were regular users) and using the sexist card was the easiest way to get access to the pool. It's a shame.


    why isnt it sexist, its discrimination based upon sex for no reason other than someone elses opinion which is sexism imo
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i probably wouldnt care sometimes, however they do tend to have LOADS of womens nights imo

    Well, fair enough. I'm not in favour of it taking over the entire schedule, I just don't think it's that big a deal that the service is provided when there's clearly a demand for it.

    As it says in the article, they would have put on a men's session but there's no demand for it. So something doesn't quite add up.

    Like byny said, it's the odd voice of dissent crying "sexism" and the council or whoever act instantly.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    IT IS SEXIST... but these people could have dealt with the issue in a more mature way , with a bit of mediation and reasonable discussion they could have solved it just as quickly.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Sue Marshall, 41, of Nailsea said: "The women's swim session on Wednesday evening was always very popular.

    "I think some women do feel self-conscious in their swimsuits and just feel more comfortable when they know it's just other women in the pool.

    "As far as I know, there was only two hours of women-only swim time at Backwell, which doesn't seem too much to ask from a whole week.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    briggi wrote:
    As it says in the article, they would have put on a men's session but there's no demand for it. So something doesn't quite add up.


    maybe because, to be blunt, the men dont give a toss as long as they get to swim :s
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    byny wrote:
    how rediculous.

    One of the main reasons people have women only sessions is to serve the part of the local community that has religious or cultural rules regarding displaying human flesh to men they are not related to.

    Here's something I dug up about about this:
    Can a Muslim Woman Go to Public Swimming Pools?

    Dear Sheikh, As-Salaam `Alaykum. I am a Muslim girl living in the United States and I like swimming, so is it Halal (lawful) for me to swim in a public pool with long, wide clothes or not?

    Wa`alykum As-Salamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

    In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

    All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

    Dear sister in Islam, first and foremost, we commend your interest in getting yourself well-acquainted with the teachings of Islam. May Allah keep us all firm in the straight Path, Ameen!

    It’s the duty of the committed Muslim woman to set a good example in morality and good ethics for all people. Being a Muslim living in the West doesn’t make difference in this regard. So, it’s your duty to preserve your dignity and honor by compliance with the teachings of Islam.

    Answering the question you posed, Sheikh Faisal Mawlawi, Deputy Chairman of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, states:

    "Giving the fact that such swimming pool involves opposite sexes, and with the fact no one can conceive that there exists swimming suits for women that do not stick to their bodies when they get wet and cover all their bodies save the face and hands, then the original rule that women are not permitted to swim in public swimming pools is still in effect.

    Muslim women in Western countries should demand separate swimming pools for women. They have succeeded in this in some German cities where separate swimming pools have been designed for women at specific times.

    Therefore, in all Western countries, Muslim women should ask for this. If this demand was not achieved, a Muslim woman is not allowed to swim in public and mixed swimming pools."

    Now, it becomes crystal clear that a Muslim woman isn’t allowed to swim in public and mixed swimming pools, while she can swim in a women-only swimming pool where men are not allowed.

    Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, adds:

    “So long as you’re swimming with women and wearing clothes that cover your `Awrah properly, you’re allowed to do so.

    It goes without saying that Islam does not allow men and women swimming together, hence the issue of public swimming pool for both men and women is totally rejected in Islam."

    Allah Almighty knows best.

    http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503545706

    The first scholar seems to suggest that a muslim woman should not swim in the same pool that a man has been swimming in, even if they are in it at different, exclusive times. That might just be me misunderstanding it though...
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